Saints better balanced with Winch’s return
AFTER producing their best 90 minutes of the season, St Martin’s need to repeat it at Les Quennevais tomorrow if they are to reach the Wheway Cup final.
Standing in their way are the Channel Islands champions, St Paul’s, who have already put the Blanche Pierre side out of one inter-island cup this season, winning 2-0 in Guernsey in late October.
St Martin’s coach Leon Meakin said the key was to not make the sort of errors they did that day, ‘as they will punish you’.
In the Jeremie tie St Martin’s held out for the best part of an hour before conceding against a side who had enjoyed overwhelming possession.
Meakin is hopeful though of a better result in Jersey, not least because of the quality of his side’s performance in turning over North 4-0 a week ago.
‘I was delighted and it was certainly our best performance of the season,’ said Meakin.
‘As a team we were fired up and now the challenge is to do that consistently.’
Two of the star performers against North were central midfielder Louis Hunter and returning left-back Jason Winch, who has been bedevilled by knee injuries in recent years but looked as good as new at Northfield.
‘We have him our official [FA] sheet man of the match. It is a real bonus to have him back in the squad and he gives us a bit more balance.’
Hunter and Charlie Laine dominated central midfield and Meakin agreed that the former was outstanding, ‘but so was everyone’.
Saints travel with Kyle Smith back in the squad, as is Chris King and Steve Renouf.
But on the debit side, central defender Damien Le Tocq is unavailable, which may necessitate Brent Marquand moving back from the striker’s role he performed adequately against North.
Meanwhile, eight of the nine senior clubs are in FNB Priaulx League action this weekend.
Manzur are due to host Vale Rec at Northfield this evening while tomorrow there is a triple-header.
Sylvans take on Alderney at St Peter’s in a 1pm kick-off, while at 2pm Bels entertain North at the Track and champions Rovers play Rangers at Port Soif.
Rovers could have central defender Tom Strawridge back after breaking a metatarsal and coach Jez Robin will have all three of his GFC men – Ryan-Zico Black, Glyn Dyer and Kieran Mahon – appearing.
